Research Highlights of the CIMMYT Wheat Program 1999-2000

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In addition to shuttle breeding several activities are conducted in the framework of the Kazakhstan- Siberia Network (KASIB Network) on spring wheat improvement with similar objectives. At the second meeting of the network in Barnaul, Russia, in 2000, several breeding programs indicated their willingness to join the network, which, as a result, will be expanded and formalized in 2001. Agronomy Until now regional cooperation on agronomy has been limited to on-farm promotion of locally developed wheat technology components to improve yield and profitability based on realistic costs of inputs and field operations. In the winter wheat areas of Kazakhstan two years of experimentation showed that high seeding rates (220 kg/ha) used by farmers are not justified. There was no yield increase compared to using 120 kg/ ha. At the same time yield increase due to fertilizer use improved the profitability of grain production per unit area. Similar experiments in northern Kazakhstan proved the importance of variety, seeding dates, and the preceding crop. Future priorities for northern Kazakhstan will be developing and testing zero-tillage, which is vital in a region prone to wind erosion. In the irrigated areas of the South, efforts will focus on adapting bed planting and new irrigation techniques. Improving Research Efficiency Helping NARSs improve their research efficiency— above all, through training—is one of the prime goals of the CAC program. A number of national and regional training courses have been conducted over the last two years. Topics varied from the very specific (use of the computer in breeding, on-farm trials, seed production, etc.) to the more general (agronomy, English language). The best young scientists attend training courses in Mexico. CIMMYT has been helping organizations such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and GTZ (Germany) to evaluate the agricultural research and cereals production sector and draft plans for change and reform. In 2000 the CIMMYT team started a two-year project that will lead to the establishment of a competitive grant system for funding agricultural research in Azerbaijan. Activities of CIMMYT economists in the region have identified potential for future productivity growth and assisted policy-makers to draw up viable development plans for the wheat sector. Some special projects (GTZ) grant funds for machinery and equipment, while CIMMYT provides technical advice on the types of machinery and possible sources of supply. Finally, wheat research programs in the region have suffered severe funding cuts, and CIMMYT provides operational support where possible. 68
CIMMYT’s Advanced Wheat Improvement Course: Opening Doors to NARS Senior Scientists R.L. Villareal The visiting scientist program is one of CIMMYT’s most active training efforts. Since 1966, 1,866 scientists from more than 90 countries all over the world have come to the CIMMYT Wheat Program for short periods, usually two to six weeks (Table 1). CIMMYT has refocused its resources towards receving scientists from countries with less developed national programs, where the need for training is more critical. By supporting these visits each year, CIMMYT encourages personal interaction among wheat researchers, who after completing the course join the ranks of alumni who make up an international research network. At the Center, visiting scientists have a unique opportunity to exchange ideas among themselves and with our staff, discuss research results, and generally strengthen the interpersonal and professional bonds that hold the international network together. Visitors share their knowledge and experience with CIMMYT staff, trainees, and colleagues from other countries through personal contacts, group discussions, and seminars. Also, they may select wheat, triticale, and barley seed to be shipped to their home countries for use in their crop improvement efforts (it should be stressed that prior to shipping the seed is treated with appropriate fungicides and other chemicals). Table 1. Origin of CIMMYT’s Wheat Program visiting scientists based on regional aggregates, 1966 - 2000. Origin Visiting scientists* (no.) Sub-Saharan Africa 133 West and North Africa 177 East, South, and Southeast Asia 451 Latin America 499 Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Caucasus 60 High-income countries 546 * Source: CIMMYT Training Database. Two main categories of professional visitors come to CIMMYT: research directors and policy-makers who come for a short orientation tour, and midcareer, senior scientists who work directly with CIMMYT senior scientists in on-going research programs. These two categories are sometimes confused when visiting scientists are selected or their visits programmed. Of particular concern are policy-makers or active wheat scientists who are sent for 3-6 weeks—too short for a working assignment and too long for an orientation tour. Given the large number of visiting scientists who come to the CIMMYT Wheat Program each year, training resources are stretched to the limit. To maximize the effectiveness of staff time and increase cost effectiveness, the two types of training need to be clarified. To better distinguish between the two, this paper will not discuss the subject of short-term visits for research directors and policy-makers but will focus instead on the CIMMYT Advanced Wheat Improvement (CAWI) course given in Mexico to mid-career, senior NARS scientists. The course was established in an attempt to further define and more efficiently manage the active visiting scientist program. It should be noted that the CAWI course is an integral part of CIMMYT’s Global Project 8, “Building partnerships through human resource development.” Objectives of the CAWI Course The CAWI course has two main objectives: 1) to impart to senior NARS scientists knowledge on the efficient management of a germplasm improvement program, and 2) to give NARS scientists the opportunity to select new wheat germplasm from 69
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Research Highlights of the CIMMYT W
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Table of Contents New Conservation
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Foreword We are pleased to initiate
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Hobbs on the zero-till planters fro
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Burning is practiced due to a lack
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(0.64 million ha), and Bolivia (0.2
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New Bread Wheats for High Rainfall
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CIMMYT scientists have published on
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Taken together these data indicate
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Evaluating Advanced Materials Targe
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this may simply reflect a lack of v
Page 24 and 25: eleased in more than 30 countries u
Page 26 and 27: Parallel enhancement of yield compo
Page 28 and 29: Taken together, these factors sugge
Page 30 and 31: of improved seed and new technologi
Page 32 and 33: The high cost of hybrid seed is one
Page 34 and 35: Only a few cultivars performed well
Page 36 and 37: in CAC. In Turkey, the advantage ov
Page 38 and 39: ows, 2 m long). One plot was inocul
Page 40 and 41: Table 2. Wheat production statistic
Page 42 and 43: Based on farmers’ preferences, 12
Page 44 and 45: Global Monitoring of Wheat Rusts, a
Page 46 and 47: Monitoring nurseries The nurseries
Page 48 and 49: controlled by several QTLs with sma
Page 50 and 51: environments with strong disease pr
Page 52 and 53: eselections, studies at CIMMYT have
Page 54 and 55: References Johnson, R. 1978. Practi
Page 56 and 57: spike. Interaction between Lr19 and
Page 58 and 59: variation in the trait. Both grain
Page 60 and 61: the variation in yield (Figure 2).
Page 62 and 63: References Amani, I., R.A. Fischer,
Page 64 and 65: in ECSA rely heavily on CIMMYT whea
Page 66 and 67: the pivotal role of Kulumsa in the
Page 68 and 69: Regional wheat quality classificati
Page 70 and 71: Table 5. Regional screening nurseri
Page 72 and 73: In 1992-93 the CIMMYT office in Tur
Page 76 and 77: the CIMMYT wheat breeding program.
Page 78 and 79: Five participants thought the level
Page 80 and 81: 35. Skovmand, B.; López C., C.; S
Page 82 and 83: 94. Tanner, D.G. 1999. Principles a
Page 84 and 85: 182. Díaz de León, J.L.; Escoppin
Page 86 and 87: 258. Mujeeb-Kazi, A.; Delgado, R.;
Page 88: CIMMYT-Derived Bread Wheat, Durum W
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Research Highlights of the CIMMYT Wheat Program 1999-2000

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